February 2001

AKEBONO RETIRES!

    
AKEBONO RETIRES!
Chronic Knee Pain Ends 13 Years in Sport 
From Honolulu Star-Bulletin news services

TOKYO -- He stood tall in sumo's clay dohyo, cowing opponents with his massive frame and menacing glare.  He toppled his rivals easily and made history as the first foreigner to reach the pinnacle of Japan's ancient sport.

Now Akebono, the 6-foot-9, 510-pound sumo sensation from Hawaii, will wrestle no more.

On January 22, the mammoth sumotori (civilian name:  Chad Rowan) solemnly announced his retirement at age 31.  He says the pain in his strained knees has grown too intense for him to compete.  "My legs have been hurting since before the New Year tourney, so I decided to retire," Akebono told reporters at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan after submitting his retirement notice.  "I just don't have the energy to climb the mountain again."

Ironically, Akebono, who sat out the just-concluded Hatsu Basho, decided to retire after completing his most successful 12-month stint in seven years, leading all sumotori in 2000 with 76 wins and a pair of yusho.  Akebono, who arrived at Azumazeki Beya in 1988, won the Emperor's Cup 11 times in his career.  This puts him in seventh place on the list of all-time tournament champions.  But injuries over the second half of his career forced him onto the sidelines on several occasions.  The soft-spoken grand champion displayed his usual humility and grace.  "I've gotten to do what the average person doesn't have a chance to do," he said at a news conference at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, where he was a dominant force for 13 years.  "I'm so thankful to everyone."

The road hasn't always been smooth for Akebono.  In 1993, he was promoted to sumo's top rank of yokozuna, or grand champion, amid protests by fans who said the honor should go only to Japanese wrestlers.  "Sometimes I would think, 'This is really hard,'" he said. "But looking back, I'm glad I did what I did."

Sumo elder Azumazeki Oyakata, himself a Hawaiian expatriate (original name:  Jesse Kuhaulua), said he had hoped that his star rikishi would continue, but could see it was over during the New Year tournament which concluded Sunday.  "For 13 years, Akebono put up the good fight.  That he became a yokozuna was indeed magnificent," Azumazeki said after he and Akebono had called on Nihon Sumo Kyokai chairman Tokitsukaze Rijicho to submit the retirement notice.  The Sumo Kyokai accepted the notice and the board of directors approved the sumo elder's name of "Akebono" since he has not yet secured the "toshiyori" stock needed to remain a member of the Kyokai beyond five years.

Akebono, who has taken Japanese citizenship and the Japanese name Akebono Taro, was ranked at grand champion for 48 tournaments, the fourth-longest tenure ever at that rank.  He made his sekitori debut at the 1990 Haru Basho, entered the Makunouchi Division three basho later and made komusubi at the 1991 Haru contest.   He suffered his first make-koshi at Natsu 1991, posting a 7-8 at sekiwake and being returned to the hiramaku.  He went 8-7 at maegashira #1, was reranked at komusubi for Nagoya 1991 and once again went 7-8 to drop down again.  That was his final losing effort:  he won his first yusho in May of 1992 to earn ozeki ranking.  He blasted through the field with a 14-1 in November to get his second championship, and followed it two months later at the Kokugikan with a 13-2 for two in a row and promotion to the pinnacle of the sport 

For sumo fans, the title of yokozuna has an almost-sacred ring to it.  Bestowing that honor upon Akebono was considered anathema by many, especially considering worries among Japanese fans that the sport was being overrun by foreigners.  Criticism of Akebono, whose rise through the ranks of sumo was one of the fastest in the 2,000-year history of the sport, gradually died down.  The carping resumed in 1998 when it was learned he was marrying a Japanese-American woman pregnant with his child:  in some Japanese media circles he was mocked as “the Clinton of sumo” in reference to the former US president beset by sexual scandal.  The couple now has two children.

Akebono was joined at the yokozuna level in 1999 by another Hawaii-born wrestler, Musashimaru, who currently has eight yusho to his credit.  Akebono’s retirement reduces the number of Americans in sumo to two:  Musashimaru, and Sentoryu of St. Louis.  The influx of Hawaiian wrestlers into sumo has abated:  Mongolians now form the largest single gaijin contingent, with 14 wrestlers in eight heya.  (A complete listing of foreign sumotori is printed elsewhere in this issue.)

Akebono said he wants to stay in sumo by becoming a trainer.  He may eventually run his own stable, the sport's traditional power base, where wrestlers are subjected to rigorous practice and schooled in strict sumo etiquette.  This is a typical route for retired yokozuna, and perhaps the only way Akebono can remain involved in the sport.

Those chronic knee problems and other injuries have kept him out of several tournaments, including the recent New Year's Grand Sumo Tournament.  "My body doesn't listen anymore," Akebono said. "This wasn't an easy decision.  I really agonized over it."

Akebono’s record in 63 Makunouchi Division basho (58 in sanyaku, 48 as yokozuna) is 566 wins, 198 losses and 181 absences.  He won 4 Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize) and 2 Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize) in addition to his 11 championships.  He earned 4 kinboshi (gold star) for wins over yokozuna while ranked at maegashira, and surrendered 35 kinboshi to other maegashira while ranked at yokozuna.

The Associated Press and Kyodo News Service contributed to this report.  “Yukikaze” edited it for SUMO SHIMPO.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

Whether the chiropractor was even doing TAKA’s sumo any good was highly debatable:  his numbersfrom Kyushu 1998 to Aki 2000 read 89 wins, 38 losses and 53 absences.  Finally, age and injuries had forced what had been a mighty supporting cast of sekitori (including WAKANOHANA) into retirement.  Futagoyama Beya tottered on the brink of its own “Fall of the House of Usher” as the Hatsu Basho 2001 – the first tournament of the Third Millennium – opened under the roof of the Kokugikan.

Since MUSASHIMARU had defeated TAKANOHANA at the 2000 Kyushu Basho,  he occupied the #1-West slot while Futagoyama’s heyagashira was at #2-East.  After winning in Fukuoka to cap his most successful year since 1993, yokozuna #1-East AKEBONO took a Kosho Seido break to rest a pair of knees that have been hurting for some time (they must have hurt worse than first figured, because he announced his retirement after the basho was completed:  see related story).  With AKEBONO on the sidelines, the other two yokozuna came out of the gate with wins and didn’t look back at the rest of the field for the first 12 days.  The separation came on the 13th day when sekiwake-East WAKANOSATO downed MUSASHIMARU with one of the brand-new kimarite listed this year:  sokubiotoshi (head chop-down).  Meanwhile TAKANOHANA used the most common winning technique, yorikiri, to best ozeki #1‑East KAIO and take the lead for himself.  But Musashigawa’s tsuna-owner forced KAIO out on day 14 to set up a chance on senshuraku.  And he made good use of that chance, sweeping TAKANOHANA aside and pushing him down onto his hands from behind to bring on a playoff.  But TAKANOHANA was determined:  with well-trained footwork and patience he worked MUSASHIMARU to the edge and pushed him over the tawara to finally break the 13-basho dry spell - and take possession of the Tenno-Hai for the 21st time in his career.

Of the five ozeki, only KAIO put on a performance worthy of the rank.  Losses to WAKANOSATO and komusubi-West TOCHINONADA put him behind the two yokozuna.  But he still had to meet both of them head-to-head, and thus he had a chance to pull himself back into the hunt.  But his loss to TAKANOHANA removed him from any chance at the Tenno-Hai, and he couldn’t stop MUSASHIMARU the next day.  Tomozuna’s strongman finished at 10-5.  The best way to describe the performance of the Musashigawa “College of Sumo Knowledge” at Hatsu 2001 was that it did nothing to vet any of its members as yokozuna material.  #2-East DEJIMA went kadoban with a 7-8, #2-West MIYABIYAMA posted a poor 8-7, and senior member #3-West MUSOYAMA managed a 9-6 in defense of his Hatsu 2000 title.  But they could consider themselves fortunate compared with #1-West CHIYOTAIKAI.  The number-one man on the Kokonoe depth chart and 1999 Hatsu winner was nursing a bad ankle into his day 3 match with TOCHINONADA.  The Kasugano heyagashira met him with both hands to the chest, and CHIYOTAIKAI simply crumpled, unable to regain his feet or bow out.  He went back down the hanamichi in the big wheelchair.  The report is that he suffered serious damage to the ligaments in his ankle:  he will miss the Haru Basho, and may not even be ready in May.  If that is the case, his ozeki standing will be in jeopardy.

The performance of the lower sanyaku was best described as half-feast and half-famine.  WAKANOSATO occupied the sekiwake-East slot on the strength of his 9-6 Kyushu performance, coupled with the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize) he’d earned by spoiling what proved to be AKEBONO’s final bid for zensho yusho.  He still had some momentum left from that outing, and proved it in his shonichi win over KAIO.  The Naruto heyagashira went 1 for 2 against the yokozuna, 3 for 5 against the ozeki, gained his kachi-koshi on day 12 and finished with a more-than-satisfactory 10-5 along with another Shukun-Sho.  Stablemate TAKANOWAKA, right below him at komusubi-East, did not fare as well.  Never mind that both TAKANOHANA and MUSASHIMARU both had their way with him:  the only ozeki that did not beat him was CHIYOTAIKAI, and that was because he had been wheeled out of the Kokugikan the day before.  He was make-koshi after day 10 and could only manage a 4-11.  As bad as that was:  at least he managed to topple sekiwake-West KOTOMITSUKI - and that, after TAKANOHANA’s performance, was the surprise story of Hatsu 2001.  The former college champion had been pushed all the way into the sanyaku on the strength of his 13-2 jun-yusho showing in Fukuoka in which he won all three sansho.  But the other joi-jin quickly showed him that he had a lot to learn if he was going to stay in these rarified ranks.  He lost to CHIYOTAIKAI on day 1, took down tough maegashira #4-East AKINOSHIMA – and was then taken apart by the other sanyaku.  A couple of hiramaku, #1-East TAKANONAMI and #3-West KAIHO, even joined in the slaughter.  He managed to stave off a total sanyaku shutout by forcing DEJIMA off the dohyo on day 9 but his ship was already well nigh on the rocks:  he also finished 4-11.  Meanwhile TOCHINONADA (himself a collegiate makushita insert) managed to go 6 for 10 against the other joi-jin and survived his stint in the ‘killer rank’ with a 9-6 and the Gino-Sho (Technique Prize).

It illustrated the waning power of the once-powerful Futagoyama machine when its next-highest ranking deshi on the banzuke was TAKANONAMI at maegashira #1-East:  for the first time since the 1992 Nagoya Basho the “mightiest heya under Heaven” had only one rikishi in the sanyaku ranks.  The former ozeki’s bid for a return to the joi-jin started well enough with a win over DEJIMA.  But then the rest of the upper-rankers teed off on the two-time yusho winner, and he lost 7 of his next 10.  A win over KOTOMITSUKI staved off demotion but it wasn’t enough:  the former pillar of Futagoyama power lost in spectacular fashion to #4-West TOCHIAZUMA on senshuraku to fall to 6-9.  Joining TAKANONAMI on the down ‘erebeta’ will be “Giant Killer” and kinboshi king AKINOSHIMA, who could only manage a 7-8.  But #12-East TAKATORIKI batted .500 during the first 14 days, then pushed out #10-East KYOKUSHUZAN on senshuraku.  The Haru 2000 winner will defend his title from the middle of the hiramaku:  his string of contests without injury absence now numbers 945 (483-462).

The battle in the maegashira ranks wrote new stories and hinted at new strength to come.  WAKANOYAMA won the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize) with a 9-6 at #3-East:  every Musashigawa Beya sekitori will be ranked in the sanyaku when the Haru 2001 banzuke is published.  TOCHIAZUMA was back in the wars after being sidelined by a bad shoulder.  The former sekiwake, once considered a top contender for ozeki status, began the journey back with a strong 10-5 posting that included wins over the entire “College of Sumo Knowledge” faculty.  Mongolian power, old and new, displayed itself:  #8-East KYOKUTENHO posted a 10-5 to share top hiramaku honors with TOCHIAZUMA while shin-nyumaku #12-West ASASHORYU went 9-6.  #10-East KYOKUSHUZAN used another of the new 2001 kimarite, okuritsuriotoshi (rear lifting body slam) on his way to a winning record.  #7-West KOTORYU put up a 9-6 which may place him over KOTOMITSUKI on the Sadogatake depth chart.  The news wasn’t all on the dohyo and it wasn’t all good:  #8-West TOKI was absent from the competition, suspended by the Kyokai due to a traffic accident in Osaka in which a woman pedestrian was killed (see related story).  No kinboshi were harvested this contest.

In Juryo action:  #1-East TAMANONADA won the yusho and a return to Makunouchi with a 12-3 record.  #3-West OTSUKASA, #10-East HAMANISHIKI, #10-West AOGIYAMA and #13-West KITAZAKURA all posted 10-5 records.  #6-East AMINISHIKI, who had fallen to the second division after a disastrous 1-14 outing in Fukuoka, bounced back with a 9-6.  #8-West WAKATSUTOMU also went 9-6.  The “Cal Ripken of Sumo”, #2-West TERAO, might return to the “Big Show” on his 8-7 effort.   Brazilian #6-West KUNIAZUMA might not have recovered from the injury which put him on the Public Injury shelf in November:  he could only manage a 7-8.  And #9-West SENTORYU did not even answer the bell, thanks to an injured shoulder:  he is expected to be back in action in Osaka.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

The Year 2000 in Review
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

The final year of the 20th century was a very active and involved sumo year.

1.        The yusho winners were as follows (yusho number in parentheses):

Hatsu:  MUSOYAMA (1)
Haru:  TAKATORIKI (1)
Natsu:  KAIO (1)
Nagoya:  AKEBONO (10)
Aki:  MUSASHIMARU (8)
Kyushu:  AKEBONO (11)

2.        Three rikishi gained ozeki ranking:  MUSOYAMA, MIYABIYAMA and KAIO.

3.        Two ozeki lost their ranking:  TAKANONAMI and MUSOYAMA.  TAKANONAMI regained it but then lost it for good:  his poor performance at the Kyushu Basho sealed his fate.  MUSOYAMA just managed to get the 10 wins in September he needed to reclaim his parking  privileges under the Kokugikan.

4.        There were a spate of retirements.  Tops among these was that of yokozuna WAKANOHANA (who has since left the world of sumo:  see related story) who packed it in during the Haru Basho when he finally realized he could no longer perform at the level expected of a grand champion.  Others who called it a career were yusho-winning former sekiwake KOTONISHIKI and MITOIZUMI, and long-time maegashira journeyman KITAKACHIDOKI.

5.        Gaijin rikishi made greater inroads into the Japanese national sport.  SENTORYU, who had spent many years in the lower divisions, finally broke through into the Makunouchi to become the first continental American to do so.  Mongolian sensation ASASHORYU made the Juryo,  becoming the first rikishi born in 1980 to become a sekitori.  And Brazil’s KUNIAZUMA finally earned his oichomage after years of hard work.  On the other side:  Argentinian HOSHITANGO, who had finally appeared to establish himself in the paid ranks, went 0-15 at Nagoya to drop back to the Makushita alongside countryman HOSHIANDESU, who has since retired.  (A complete listing of gaijin rikishi is printed in this newsletter.)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

Local Competition Reports
By “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

Holiday Open
The Holiday Open was held in Escondido on Dec. 10, 2000 in conjunction with a karate tournament.  This was not a totally satisfactory arrangement because the venue did not have enough room to run adult sumo and all the karate events at the same time.  We were able to hold the kids events in the space allocated, but not the men's. It was necessary to shut down the karate to make room to do the men's events.  Not all the karate people were happy about this.

Four kids’ divisions were contested:  little, medium, big and biggest.  There were three men’s divisions:  lightweight, heavyweight and open.  There were four competitors in the men’s lightweight and heavyweight divisions and eight in the open.  The kids’ results were as follows:

Little Kids.  1. Gabe Arce, UCMAA 2.Terra Parker, UCMAA 3. Saril Paz, UCMAA 4. Brandon Marquez, UCMAA
Medium Kids  1. Mike Phan, LBPAL 2. Adam Entin, UCMAA 3. Sean Williams, UCMAA  4. Mike Dunn, UCMAA 5. Ngoc Phan, LBPAL
Big Kids 1. Johnny Salazar, UCMAA 2. Manuel Payan, UCMAA 3. Billy Carter, UCMAA
Biggest Kids 1. Marcus Reerford, LBPAL 2. John Ramsey, UCMAA 3. Amanda Scales, LBPAL

The men’s results were as follows:
Lightweights.  1. Svetoslav Binev 2. Andrew Freund 3. Vladimir Kovacevic 4. George Williams
Heavyweights  1. David Knight 2. Marcus Barber 3. Jim Lowerre 4. Harry Dudrow
Open  1. Svetoslav Binev 2. Marcus Barber 3. David Knight 4. Andrew Freund

Mr. Binev is a two-time World Amateur Lightweight Champion.  Mr. Kovacevic, Mr. Williams and Mr. Barber were competing in their first sumo tournament.  Very nice plaques were awarded to the first three places in all divisions.

Goltz Sumo IV
The first sumo tournament put on by the Southern California Sumo Kyokai was a kids’ tournament at the Goltz Judo Club in Claremont California in January 1998.  That first tournament was contested by fourteen boys and three girls.  The next year we added men’s competitions, with contestants coming from as far away as Tucson, Arizona and Bloomington, Indiana to contend.  Last year, with teams coming from the Long Beach Police Athletic League and the Temecula Valley Judo Club we had over thirty competitors.

This year, for a number of reasons (including inauguration day, sickness and conflicting events) we had the smallest turnout yet.  Only eleven competitors - six kids, two teens and three men - answered the bell.  Disappointing of course; but then as the saying goes, "The show must go on".  With Ernie Hunt officiating and Sensei Gary Goltz doing his version of an ESPN commentator on the portable PA, the show did indeed go on. 

Trophies were awarded in the following divisions, names by Sensei Gary:

"Little Kids":  all first tournament. 1. Jeremy Cruz (age 9, 70lbs. PAL)  2. Justin Domingo (age 8, 60lbs. Goltz) 3. Carlos Gallegos (age 8, 50lbs. PAL).

"Slightly a little bit bigger little kids":  all veterans. 1. Kareem Issac (age 9, 60lbs. PAL) 2. Gabrielle Carrasco (age 9, 103lbs. Goltz) 3. Katherine Carrasco (age 7, 98lbs. Goltz).

After these divisions were done, everyone wanted more; so both divisions were combined for a "Kohaku" competition.  In this type of competition you start with the two smallest and the winners stay in until they lose.  The last winner wrestles back down the line until they lose or beat everyone.  The results were:   1. Gabrielle Carrasco, 6 wins  2. Kareem Issac, 4 wins  3. Jeremy Cruz, 2 wins  4. (Tie) Katherine Carrasco and Justin Domingo, 1 win each  6. Carlos Gallegos 0 wins.

"Beauty and the Beast":  best two out of three.  1. Stephanie Abramowicz (age 16, 95lbs.) 2 wins  2. Sharif Ali (age 16, 140lbs.) 1 win.

"Big Guys" round robin:  1. Marcus Barber (age 30, 450lbs.) over Jim Lowerre (age 47, 295lbs.) by uwatenage.  2. Harry Dudrow (age 60, 265lbs.) over  Lowerre by yorikiri.  3. Barber vs. Dudrow dotai (simultaneously out of bounds):  on torinaoshi (rematch) Barber over Dudrow by yorikiri.  Gold:  Marcus Barber.  Silver:  Harry Dudrow.  Bronze:  Jim Lowerre.

We don't know if Goltz Sumo IV will be the last in the series; but it will be the last at the Baseline Recreation Center.  The center, an old fire station, is being closed and the Goltz Judo Club will be moving to a spacious new recreation center in June.

More on "An Olympic Moment"
Apparently, we were not alone in our view of the Greco-Roman Heavyweight match.  Henry Provencher, whose son Austin is a Junior champion in both styles of Olympic wrestling (and who has won his age class in several SCSK tournaments – Ed.), told us that Karelin and Gardner are known as "The Dancing Bears".

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

RESULTS of the 9th WORLD SUMO CHAMPIONSHIPS
in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Notes:
1.  Openweight is a separate and distinct division:  competitors in this division may not compete in any other weight classification.
2.  Two-time lightweight champion Svetoslav Binev (BUL), now living in the U.S., was unable to leave the country to defend his title.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

Gaijin Rikishi Data and Results (as of Hatsu 2001)

Data from Moti Dichne’s Sumo Homepage (www.dichne.com)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

World Championship Results
Germany Takes Team Title; James Perry Makes Semis
By “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

The 9th World Sumo Championships were held in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sat. & Sun. Dec. 2&3, 2000.  In a major upset, Germany beat Japan for the team title.  In the individuals, James Perry advanced to the semi-finals in the heavyweight division, losing to eventual silver medalist Jorg Brummer of Germany.  He then lost to Marcos Santana of Brazil for one of the two bronze medals.

In other weight divisions, lightweight Nick Yonezuka and middleweight Kenna Heffernan were both eliminated in the first round.  Manny Yarbrough, who was scheduled to compete in the open division, did not go due to knee problems.  (Note: The format of the World Championships is a single elimination with repechage or consolation bracket.  Only those competitors who lost to one of the two finalists during one of the earlier rounds qualify for the repechage.)

The arena seated about 15,000 and was about a third full, according to James Perry.  The US Team in the team competition consisted of James Perry, heavyweight, Kenna Heffernan, middle weight and Rene Marte, middleweight.  The US team advanced via wins and a bye to where they came up against eventual champion Germany (all heavyweights) who beat them 3-0.  They then lost to Poland in the Bronze medal match.  Interestingly, Rene, who holds dual citizenship, was allow to represent Jamaica in the individual competition.

Results Of The 2nd Junior Worlds (Held 19 Aug 00 At The Kokugikan In Tokyo):

1. Masaru Maeda, Japan 2. Kesomi Aukafalau, Tonga 3. Jonas Rabbatha, Germany

JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS

 
[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

Former Yokozuna Wakanohana III Leaves Nihon Sumo Kyokai
From SUMO WORLD magazine news service

Fujishima Oyakata, ex-yokozuna Wakanohana III, formally resigned from the Nihon Sumo Kyokai on December 18 after weeks of unconfirmed rumors that he was about to leave.

Wakanohana has reverted to his real name of Hanada Masaru, and will become a full-time “tarento” (entertainer).  While the former yokozuna, 29, is said to have commercials worth up to ¥500,000,000 (almost $5,000,000) waiting for him, Japanese news papers have speculated that he would have been wise to remain in sumo, since he does not appear to have the natural charisma of Konishiki or Mainoumi.  Some observers have even predicted that he will end up running a chanko restaurant.  Wakanohana himself strongly hinted that he was considering a career outside sumo in his book, which was published in August 2000.  He appeared to be losing his interest in sumo:  he appeared on the keikoba at Futagoyama Beya only once after he retired from active competition in March.

Wakanohana has already established his own media management company, which is headed by his wife Mieko.  The former yokozuna is expected to continue to be an occasional sumo commentator with some TV stations as well 

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

Maegashira Toki Involved in Fatal Auto Accident
From SUMO WORLD magazine news service

#8 maegashira TOKI faces suspension by the Sumo Kyokai and possible prosecution as a result of an auto accident on December 18.

TOKI was visiting his new wife and baby in Osaka.  Driving with his wife and mother-in-law after shopping, he struck a 56-year-old woman at a pedestrian crossing.  The victim suffered a fractured skull and died almost instantly.  According to police, TOKI was not intoxicated.  Police sources indicated the following day that TOKI admitted to some responsibility for the accident.  He is being questioned voluntarily; but police are expected to send papers to prosecutors.  If TOKI is found to have caused the accident, he faces a fine of up to ¥500,000 and up to five years’ imprisonment.  However, since he was not intoxicated and has expressed remorse, the most likely penalty would be revocation of his driver’s license and a suspended sentence with probation.

The Nihon Sumo Kyokai banned active rikishi from driving last spring after AKINOSHIMA was involved in a less-serious accident.  The mere fact that TOKI was driving is almost certain to result in his being suspended from competing in the Hatsu Basho (which it has done – Ed.) and possibly the Haru Basho also.  The accident will be a serious blow to TOKI’s Takasago Beya, which could well find itself without a Makunouchi rikishi for the first time in more than 120 years.  TOKI attended the victim’s wake and funeral, and was accompanied by Takasago Oyakata’s wife.  Takasago Oyakata (moto-komusubi Fujinishiki) was hospitalized in Tokyo at the time of the incident.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

Sumo Digest Off the Air Again
by "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

For the information of our readers who do not live in the Los Angeles area, we who do have had the luxury of something besides sumo on ESPN.  Sumo Digest is a half hour digest of each days action at the major basho's in Japan.  In 1999, there were interruptions due to trouble getting sponsors.  We got through last year without any trouble, but in January 2001 the bug has struck again.  When those of us who record the show, which normally comes on at 11:30pm, went to watch it we got Chinese news instead.  A frantic call to Dynamic Sports Network, the producers, got us the simple statement that the show "had been discontinued".

A subsequent call to producer Steve Sameshima revealed that once again, they are having trouble getting enough sponsors.  Worse, KRCA had raised the rates for the air time.  Steve says he has been receiving several hundred calls a day, mostly from English-speaking viewers.  We don't doubt that KRCA has also received calls.  However, most if not all of the programming on KRCA is paid programming.  If one customer can't pay for the air time, they just sell it to someone else.

We made the suggestion to Steve that he air the show in the wee hours of the morning since we record it anyway.  Steve's reply was that most of his viewers watch live, and his Japanese sponsors would never buy it.  So much for that idea.

Steve says he will try to bring the show back.  In the mean time, we just have to cross our fingers and suffer along with the rest of the country.  At least, you can get the results on the Nihon Sumo Kyokai web site at http://www.sumo.or.jp/index_e.html

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

SEKITORI BIRTHDAYS for February and March

Data from SUMO WORLD magazine.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

World Amateur Sumo Championships Back To Japan in 2001
By “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

After two years away from Japan in Germany and Brazil, the World Championships will return home in 2001.  However, they will not be returning to Tokyo and the Ryogoku Kokukikan.  Instead, they will be going to Aomori Prefecture, the birthplace of U.S. Sumo Federation President Yoshisada Yonezuka (see related story).

Aomori is on the northern tip of Honshu.  It is the home prefecture of many top pro and amateur sumotori, among them TAKANONAMI, MAINOUMI, and current amateur heavyweight champion Tatahisa Osanai.  It is also very much "snow country" so any one going there should take warm clothes and maybe even their skis.

Yoshisada Yonezuka – a Profile
By “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

Yoshisada Yonezuka, the current President of the United States Sumo Federation, is best known as a judo and karate coach.  He is an 8th dan in judo and an 8th dan in karate.  In a career that spans over forty years he has coached many National Champions and Olympians in judo, including the USA male World Judo Champion, Mike Swain.  He coached the US judo team at the 1983 World Championships in Moscow, 1985 World Championships in Seoul, 1987 World Championships in Essen, 1988 Seoul Olympics, 1991 Pan American Games, and 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

What most people don't know, is that he did sumo before he ever did judo or karate.  He was born in Aomori Prefecture in northern Honshu on May 19, 1937.  He started doing sumo when he was seven.  His older brother also did sumo.  He was one of the two captains of his high school sumo team:  his co-captain later entered the pro sumo world.  He entered Nihon University on a judo scholarship.  According to the terms of his scholarship, he was only supposed to do judo; but he now confesses that he also did karate and still did sumo while at Nihon U.

His best-known sumo student is Manny Yarbrough, who originally started in judo but grew too big.  Manny won the World Openweight Championship in 1995 and remains a ‘drawing card’ to this day.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

Tonkatsu's Secret Victory Formula
by "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

Editor's note:  For this little article, Tonkatsu has chosen to borrow a page from Caesar and refer to himself in the third person.  Tonkatsu wants his readers to know that he is only doing this as a literary device, and is not comparing himself to Caesar.

Ever since Tonkatsu first competed in the North American Championships in 1998 he has been aware that his biggest disadvantage in competing against much younger wrestlers is his slower reaction time.  The truth is that Tonkatsu wasn't that quick even when he was young.  At age sixty, he is definitely slower than the average guy in his twenties or even thirties.

What to do?  Tonkatsu's first thought was back up some on the tachiai.  Sort of the way a slower DB in football gives a faster receiver a cushion.  So far this hasn't worked.  Recently, Tonkatsu heard a brief discussion on the radio of how a man's reaction time slows down as he grows older.  The statement was made that "At age sixty, the slowdown in reaction time would be equivalent to what a young man would experience after consuming three or four shots of vodka".

It immediately occurred to Tonkatsu that here was the solution to his dilemma...make the younger guys have a few shots before they wrestle!  (Of course, we would want to use sake instead of vodka.)  Tonkatsu's formula would be as follows:  guys in their twenties (no shots for teens – sorry, kids!) would have to down four shots, thirties three, forties two and fifties one.

After all, why should Pro Football be the only sport with parity?

CORRECTION
In our last issue, it was incorrectly stated that Polish wrestler Jon Chorostowski was living in Canada.  Actually, he lives in New Jersey and trains at Mr. Yonezuka's dojo.  The staff of SUMO SHIMPO regrets this error:  gomen nasai!

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]

CALENDAR OF SUMO EVENTS (compiled by the SUMO SHIMPO staff)

Sumo Clinic (for kids from 7-17)
Police Athletic League Facility
1401 W. 9th St., Long Beach, CA
Saturday, March 3, 2001:  9:00am to 12:00noon.
This event is free.

Haru Basho:  Municipal Gymnasium, Osaka
Banzuke:  February 26, 2001
Shonichi:  March 11, 2001 (Sunday)
Senshuraku:  March 25, 2001 (Sunday)
(go to www.sumoshimpo.com for latest SUMO DIGEST information)

Haru Basho Post-Basho Bash April 7, 2001:  6:30PM Sakura of Tokyo, Glendora at Vincent (south of I-10) West Covina (see accompanying map) Sushi, Sake and Sumo:  An Exhibition Freeman Auditorium, Denver, CO April 28, 2001:  exact time TBD Cost:  $50.00.  Proceeds to benefit cancer research www.sushisakesumo.com

Natsu Basho:  Kokugikan, Tokyo
Banzuke:  April 25, 2001
Shonichi:  May 13, 2001 (Sunday)
Senshuraku:  May 27, 2001 (Sunday)

Nagoya Basho:  Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
Banzuke:  June 25, 2001
Shonichi:  July 8, 2001 (Sunday)
Senshuraku:  July 22, 2001 (Sunday)